organ

American  

[awr-guhn] / ˈɔr gən /

noun

• organs
  plural

1. Also called pipe organ. a musical instrument consisting of one or more sets of pipes sounded by means of compressed air, played by means of one or more keyboards, and capable of producing a wide range of musical effects.

2. any of various similar instruments, as a reed organ or an electronic organ.

3. a barrel organ or hand organ.

4. Biology. a grouping of tissues into a distinct structure, as a heart or kidney in animals or a leaf or stamen in plants, that performs a specialized task.

5. penis

6. a newspaper, magazine, or other means of communicating information, thoughts, or opinions, especially in behalf of some organization, political group, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   channel, instrument, journal, publication

7. an instrument or means, as of action or performance.

   This committee will be the chief organ of administration.

8. Archaic. any of various musical instruments, especially wind, instruments.

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organ British  

/ ˈɔːɡən /

noun

1. 1. Also called: pipe organ. a large complex musical keyboard instrument in which sound is produced by means of a number of pipes arranged in sets or stops, supplied with air from a bellows. The largest instruments possess three or more manuals and one pedal keyboard and have the greatest range of any instrument

   2. ( as modifier )

      organ pipe

      organ stop

      organ loft

2. any instrument, such as a harmonium, in which sound is produced in this way See also reed organ harmonica

3. short for electric organ electronic organ

4. a fully differentiated structural and functional unit, such as a kidney or a root, in an animal or plant

5. an agency or medium of communication, esp a periodical issued by a specialist group or party

6. an instrument with which something is done or accomplished

7. a euphemistic word for penis

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organ Scientific  

/ ôr′gən /

1. A distinct part of an organism that performs one or more specialized functions. Examples of organs are the eyes, ears, lungs, and heart of an animal, and the roots, stems, and leaves of a plant.

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organ Cultural  

1. Part of a living thing, distinct from the other parts, that is adapted for a specific function. Organs are made up of tissues and are grouped into systems, such as the digestive system.

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Discover More

The brain, liver, and skin are organs.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interorgan
  adjective
• multiorgan
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• organs
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of organ

before 1000; Middle English: musical instrument, pipe organ, organ of the body, tool (< Medieval Latin, Latin organum mechanical device, instrument) < Greek órganon implement, tool, bodily organ, musical instrument, akin to érgon work

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Explanation

An organ is a part of your body that performs a specific function: like your brain, lungs, or skin. You might not use the word organ often, but you use organs every second; imagine getting through a day without your heart, lungs, or brain. Some people choose to be organ donors — meaning that, after their deaths, they donate their organs to people in need of organ transplants. An organ may also serve a specific function for an institution: a periodical like a newsletter can be an organ of an organization. An organ is also the wind instrument — sometimes called a pipe organ — often played in church.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

organ organs

The brain is a complicated organ, and it would be nearly impossible to try to solve this mystery in these pages.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

Their experiments included cells from the lungs, eyes and brain, along with miniature organ models grown in the laboratory.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026

Ebola, which is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe internal and external bleeding and organ failure, has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the last 50 years.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026

They said CPR carried out by his friends at the scene had allowed him to become an organ donor, and he had since been awarded an Order of St John in recognition.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

When Bernice and I arrived, Miss Lulu was playing the organ.

From "Louisiana's Way Home" by Kate DiCamillo

Although these conditions affect different parts of the body, they share an important feature: they interfere with the circulation of blood, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

Teddy's tumour was so large it filled his entire abdomen, pressing on his organs and making it hard for him to eat or even breathe, and the cancer had spread to his bone marrow.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

Kirsty Hill, 33, from Maesteg, Bridgend county, was born with Fraser Syndrome, external which can affect the development of body tissue and organs.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

Every game, the Bananas open their gates early—there’s a parade and an extended autograph session in which the Bananas will sign everything but your internal organs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

“Because I hear everything at once as if I have sensory organs running down my sides, like goldfish.”

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

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Related Words

• agency
• forum
• instrument
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• ministry
• mouthpiece
• structure
• unit

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